The Legend of the Loved One

Chapter 122

Song Chi knelt outside Yufu Palace all night, Concubine Ning didn't sleep all night, Zhou Yu's face was swollen when he saw her after crying all night.

Seeing someone coming, she was at a loss like a frightened prey.

Zhou Yu sighed in his heart, and greeted him first as usual, after all, before the master spoke, she was still a serious imperial concubine.Zhou Yu said: "This slave pays my respects to Concubine Ning."

Concubine Ning looked at him with tears in her eyes, as if he could say something desperate with the next sentence.But I heard him say: "According to the order of the empress, I will bring a few people to examine you. Don't be afraid, the empress. They are all experienced and know how to measure."

Concubine Ning's tears rolled out again, she nodded silently.

Zhou Yu beckoned behind him, and several women walked in.Even though he was a eunuch, it was not convenient for him to be present during the medical examination, so he voluntarily withdrew from the hall and waited while Concubine Ning entered the bedroom hall under the service of the maids of Lanlin Palace.

After a while, the errands were done, and the women withdrew to tell the truth. Zhou Yu had an idea, and came in to bid farewell to Concubine Ning, "Your Majesty, rest first, and the slave will go to the Empress Empress to answer."

"Boss Zhou," he was about to turn around when he was called by Concubine Ning who had been silent all this time. Concubine Ning tremblingly said, "How will the emperor deal with me?"

There was no expression on Zhou Yu's face, and he still had a respectful attitude, "Mother, this is the decision of the masters, and the slaves really dare not speculate... But since the empress can arrange someone to examine you, it must be to protect you. For you, don't be in a hurry, don't cry yourself to death."

Concubine Ning nodded and said nothing more.Zhou Yu backed out.

When the door of the palace was closed again, Lianqiu who was beside her advised her, "Master, Mr. Zhou is right. The Empress's examination of your body means that things are going to turn around. Don't cry yourself to death, just eat something!"

She is nineteen years old, and after staying in the palace for the past few years, she also has some understanding. What does that mean?It's really not as good, it's better to die.And him, even though he was the one who caused the disaster last night, but now that he thinks about it, he knelt down in front of his father to admit his mistake and begged for her forgiveness...

Will he be affected?

Another wry smile in my heart, I can't even protect myself, do you still miss him?

Sitting on the bed, Gu Pinxi buried her head in her knees, tears streaming down her face again.

Not long after, Chu Xue received the news from Zhou Yu, knowing that Concubine Ning was still perfect, she was a little relieved.

Just as he was thinking about the next step, there was a message outside Yufu Palace that it was Li Jiaoyun who came to ask for an audience, Chu Xue nodded and allowed her to come in.

Li Jiaoyun also came here because of what happened last night, and after clearing out the idlers, she looked at her anxiously, "Sister, is what happened last night true?"

Chu Xue sighed, and told her what she saw last night, saying: "This incident happened suddenly, if the emperor and I hadn't gone there personally last night, I would never have thought that the crown prince would be pestering Concubine Ning."

"Then did they..."

"No, I ordered someone to test it just now, and it's still innocent." Chu Xue explained.

Li Jiaoyun sighed, "Concubine Ning is pitiful enough, she entered the palace at a young age, and she hasn't..."

Shocked that she lost her words, she hurriedly changed the way: "Speaking of which, if that woman hadn't provoked the matter of choosing a concubine, these two people might be able to form a marriage."

Chu Xue looked up at her, a little confused, so Li Jiaoyun pointed it out, "Concubine Ning is the grandniece of the empress dowager's natal family, and she is comparable to the prince in terms of seniority..."

Hearing this, Chu Xue remembered that Concubine Ning still had this kind of relationship... I wonder if Song Chen can spare her life for the sake of the Empress Dowager's natal family...

Chu Xue sighed: "But the bitter fruit planted by his mother requires the child to taste it, and it also costs an innocent life."

Li Jiaoyun was shocked, "What does sister mean?"

"I'm afraid the emperor doesn't want to keep Concubine Ning." She frowned and replied.

Li Jiaoyun's face was white, unable to speak for a long time. After a while, he sneered and said, "Yes, one is a close relative and the other is an outsider. Everyone would make such a choice! It's a pity for a good girl... I knew that I was born in these Rich and noble people can’t help themselves, it’s better to be reborn in a small family with a father who loves your mother, even if you lose your hair and go to the temple as a sister-in-law, it’s better to live through these dire times..."

It seems to be unfair for others, and it seems to be feeling sorry for myself.

Chu Xue's eyebrows moved slightly, but she didn't say anything.Compared with others, she has such parents, and Song Chen treats each other sincerely, she must be happy to go to heaven.

"Sister, I beg you on her behalf, if possible, save her life."

Li Jiaoyun's eyes showed anticipation.

She lowered her eyes and sighed, "You don't need to tell my sister, I will definitely try my best, but it's about the crown prince. After all, it's the emperor's own flesh and blood that the emperor has loved for many years. It's really hard to say."

The two people here were both frowning and melancholy, and there was another communication from outside, Funing Palace sent someone, saying that the Empress Dowager asked her to go over and ask questions.Li Jiaoyun hurriedly got up to leave, she also adjusted her makeup and went to her mother-in-law.

Funing Palace.

"The concubine pays homage to the queen mother." She bowed solemnly first.

The queen mother's complexion was not very good, and she said tiredly, "Let's get down."

Song Chi is the eldest grandson of the Empress Dowager, if something like this happened, the mood of being a grandmother would not be much better. Chu Xue understood, and didn't care about it in her heart.

"The Ai family got up early and heard that the prince was punished by the emperor. What's going on?" the queen mother asked anxiously.

She lowered her head and recounted the scene of last night and this morning in detail. Finally, she said: "The concubine has just ordered someone to examine Concubine Ning's body, and it is still intact, which shows that the matter is not irreversible. The emperor is now angry and punished you." After the prince, I think the father and son will relax after he calms down, after all, the emperor and the prince are connected by flesh and blood, the queen mother can rest assured."

The Empress Dowager sighed, "At first I thought that Concubine Ning was a well-behaved one, but now she did such a thing, Ai's family really missed her."

Chu Xue didn't say anything more.The Queen Mother is also Song Chi's close relative, and we are all ordinary people. If something like this happens, who would want to blame their own children?

She didn't speak, the queen mother thought of something, looked at her and said: "I heard that the prince said this morning that he wants his father to depose him?"

After a pause, Chu Xue quickly explained: "Mother and Empress Mingjian, the crown prince is young and energetic after all, and that was just a momentary remark. The position of crown prince is related to the world, and the emperor will not be arrogant."

The Empress Dowager closed her eyelids and said without revealing her anger or anger: "Whether it's angry words or not, those kind of words are outrageous. If people with bad intentions hear it, they have every reason to ask the emperor to abolish the royal family. This child's life is not good, and the birth mother I can't live up to it, and it's getting more and more difficult to manage recently! It's not as good as the younger brothers below, maybe in the future Xuan'er will be much stronger than him when he grows up!"

The Empress Dowager obviously had something in her words, so Chu Xue hurriedly knelt down again and said, "Quiet the empress, no matter what the prince's birth mother is, he is the emperor's eldest son, and Xuan'er is still a babbling young son, how can he compare with his elder brother? This kind of thing is indeed a concubine's dereliction of duty, and I am asking my mother to come down!"

She hurriedly put aside her desire to win the heir, and defended the crown prince everywhere in her words. The queen mother was still satisfied, and her tone eased, and said: "Forget it, it is difficult for you to be a stepmother for such a big child. Get up quickly! The emperor is the most important right now." I can listen to your persuasion, just as you said, after all, they are father and son, so you can help to say good things, the position of crown prince is a major event in the world, and it cannot be easily moved."

"Yes." She stood up and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Thinking of Concubine Ning again, Chu Xue pondered and said, "Queen Mother, I have one more thing to ask for your order. About Concubine Ning... After all, she was born in the Marquis of Anguo. I think it hasn't made a big mistake this time. Stay safe all the time, please let her live."

The Queen Mother sighed.Could it be that Chu Xue was talking about her worries?Although I am facing the eldest grandson, Concubine Ning is also from her natal family, and is the flesh and blood of her natal nephew. If she is really asked to die, it will be difficult for the big family in An Guohou's mansion to explain...

The queen mother thought about it, but couldn't find a good idea, so she had to ask her, "Then how should we deal with it according to your opinion?"

When Chu Xue came, she had an idea on the way, and seeing the Queen Mother was relieved, she said, "I think Xuanmiao Palace is better than Leng Palace, so let's put her there for now!"

The queen mother rubbed her forehead, and had to admit that this was indeed the best solution in front of her.Xuanmiao Palace is located in the outskirts of Beijing, and it is also a royal Taoist temple. There have always been disused concubines here, such as Shu Taifei who invited her out of the palace to practice because of the fact that she had been swallowed by Mian San.Even if you don't ask about the affairs of the world, it's better than being trapped in the cold palace, the queen mother said: "It means you have a kind heart, Ai's family doesn't have any opinions, and the emperor's side, you can talk about it."

"Yes." Chu Xue was determined.As long as the Empress Dowager agrees, Song Chen will most likely be able to do it. He is a filial son, after all he has to take care of his grandfather's family.

Concubine Ning's life was finally saved this time, and she finally felt better.

After explaining clearly to the Queen Mother, Chu Xue went back to Yufu Palace, but not long after she was seated, Zhou Yu, who came back from the start of construction, came back and said that the manpower over there had been replaced, and the Crown Prince had no objections, just asking him Send word that you want to see her.

The young man must still be thinking about Concubine Ning in his heart. He could probably guess what Song Chi was going to ask, Chu Xue nodded slightly, got up and went to the East Palace.

After returning to the East Palace, Song Chi had washed and changed her clothes, and she no longer looked as distraught as she had been this morning, but Ruyu's face was still haggard, and her eyes were dead silent.

Since the emperor's father said this morning, all the palace people in the East Palace have also been dismissed. Looking at the strange faces around him, the young man sneered at himself in his heart. Following a master like himself, being a slave is considered unlucky. There are no safe days.

"The Empress is here!"

A loud singing outside the palace gate brought the young man back to reality. Hearing Chu Xue's arrival, the young man's eyes filled with hope again, and he hurriedly walked a few steps to wait outside the gate.

"The son pays homage to the queen mother." The young man saluted politely.

"Get up quickly," Chu Xue said.Even without the eyes staring at her both inside and outside the palace, she has always been polite to this stepson. She is a smart person and disdains to embarrass him on such trivial matters.

Entering the palace, Chu Xue said with concern: "It's your father's intention to replace people in your palace. I told Zhou Yu to pick some smart ones for you. These are all trained, and it's only a few days left." I got used to it. If there is something stupid that doesn't suit your wishes, just tell Bengong, and Bengong will replace you again."

"Don't worry about the empress, I'm fine here." Song Chi bowed his head.

Chu Xue sighed, and lowered her voice, "Chi'er, you have been a father and son with your father for so many years, you should understand his temper, and don't force anything, let alone contradict him, he is doing it for your own good. In such a situation, if you speak out your anger, do you know how uncomfortable your father is?"

"It's my son's fault to make my father angry, but my mother..." As soon as the voice stopped, the young man knelt down again, raised his eyes to look at her, and hesitated to speak.

Chu Xue raised her hand, and the idlers in the palace waited to withdraw. Then the young man solemnly said: "I beg my mother to save her! She is innocent, and all the faults are caused by my son. As long as my mother can save her, my son is willing to give up." Everything!" The young man shed tears and said: "What I said to my father in the morning was not angry. If I can save her life, I am willing not to be the prince. If I can't save her, I would rather be with her." Die!"

After being silent for a while, Chu Xue asked: "Don't you understand why your father is angry? He values ​​you! He wants you to calm down, so he doesn't want to keep Concubine Ning. If you still say that, aren't you afraid of making him angry again?" ?”

"I know that I don't dare to make my father angry anymore, so I came to beg you. Empress, he will definitely listen to what you say. Empress, I am willing to give up the position of crown prince to my fourth brother..."

"Shut up!" With a low reprimand to cut off the young man's pleading, Chu Xuening said with eyebrows: "Your seat is decided by your father, if you want to give it to you or someone else, it's not up to me to intervene. What you said just now is outrageous." ,do you know?"

Seeing that she was unmoved, the young man suddenly had no choice but to collapse, and said sadly: "I just want to save her, I have no other way..."

"Chi'er," Chu Xue sighed, "is she really that important to you?"

Song Chi smiled wryly, "Before I met her, I never knew what happiness is. Even if she avoids me, but even if I only keep her in my heart, life like this will always be easier."

Chu Xue frowned, "A day like this? Don't you like a day like this? Do you know how many people have worked hard for your position and even lost their lives? Even your biological mother... A large part of what she did was also for your position. Are you really willing to give up these things for a woman, even if nothing happened to you? And even if she can live, by With your current identities, it is impossible for you to be together in the future."

She really didn't understand, she thought that all the men in the royal family would love this kind of supremacy, how could this boy who seemed to have a smooth journey seem to be enduring so much pain?
Song Chi laughed sadly, "I have never had the right to choose, how do you know that I will like it? If I could do it all over again, I don't want to be who I am now... As for her, even if we never see each other again in this life, as long as she is still alive , I feel at ease. I just ask that she can live well. "

With a shock in his heart, Chu Xue suddenly felt ridiculous.

It's ridiculous for Xu Jinhe who died.In the eyes of his son, the power and position she racked her brains to maintain is as heavy as a shackle, and he can even give it up for the person he likes... If Xu Jinhe was still alive, how would he feel when he saw this scene?
At the same time, I feel a little sad, for this puppet-like child, for his never-ending dream.

There was silence in the palace for a while, and she said: "Concubine Ning, I will try my best to be considerate. As for your seat, your father is in charge. In short, don't make him sad anymore."

After saying that, he turned around and stepped out of the East Palace.

Hearing her words, the boy has hope again, as long as the girl can live.Even if there is no way to see her or get her at this time.

Lying in the curtain that night, Chu Xue softly comforted her husband who was still dull, "The concubine went to see the prince today. He already knew his mistake and was thinking about it. After all, the prince is a young man, and it is inevitable to be impulsive, but The concubine thinks that he is still a good and obedient boy, so the emperor will calm down, okay?"

"Also, the concubine went to ask the queen mother for instructions today, thinking about the family relationship between An Guohou's family and the queen mother. After all, Concubine Ning and the prince have not yet made a big mistake. If the emperor agrees, send her out of the palace. Xuanmiao Palace is a quiet place. Where to go, I guess she can think about it quietly in the future."

"How does the emperor feel?"

No matter how well she thought about the arrangement, what else could Song Chen say, he just sighed deeply: "Just do as you say, it's my negligence that I didn't consider the relationship with the Queen Mother this morning..."

He stopped, closed his eyes for a moment of silence, and asked her, "Is it wrong for me to make Chi'er the crown prince?"

Chu Xue paused, "Chi'er is your eldest son. From the eldest son to the crown prince, everything follows the etiquette, so what could be wrong?"

"But the previous abolished prince was also the first emperor's son. The emperor father trained him for more than [-] years, but in the end he was not..."

"Your majesty, Chi'er is your child, how can you compare it with the deposed prince?" Chu Xue hurriedly interrupted him.

Song Chen sighed, opened his eyes and looked at her, "I'm not comparing him with the deposed prince, I'm comparing myself with my father, who always cared about his status, only knowing that he was wrong, he procrastinated again and again, and in the end he was almost cast out. become a disaster... I am actually worried that I will make the same mistake..."

Chu Xue fell silent for a while.

In her opinion, it is absurd to have to choose the eldest son as the heir. As a person who inherits the country, the first condition should be virtuous and not born. For example, Song Chen himself, if he had to compare his birth, he would be sitting on the dragon chair now. There is no doubt that the deposed prince is the one, but if that is the case, what will Daqi Jiangshan look like?
As a father and a king, it is actually rare for Song Chen to be aware of this, but even though he asked this, as a stepmother, she would never speak, so she just stayed silent with him.

He only heard him say again: "Although Qian'er is good at learning, his temper is too soft. Qi'er is a martial artist, so I may be biased. As for Xuan'er..."

He suddenly looked at her and asked, "How is our Xuan'er?"

Chu Xue bent the corners of her lips, as if she was making a joke of him, "Xuan'er is still so young, he can't even say a word, who knows what he will look like in the future? Besides... besides, the concubine doesn't have so many extravagant expectations for him , I just hope that he can do what he wants to do in the future, fulfill his responsibilities, and not disappoint his relatives and himself."

She has always been so modest, but he believes that with such a mother, their son Xuan'er will not be bad,

Forget it, I have a headache for the big event in the past, so I don't want to embarrass her, patted her hand, and he said: "Go to sleep."

She nodded meekly.The bed curtain was lowered, she snuggled up to him, and fell into a dream.

In the early morning of the second day, Concubine Ning waited for her results, and Yizhi from Yufu Palace said that she was asked to go to the Xuanmiao Palace outside the palace to lead her to practice.

Afraid that the master would be sad, Lianqiu tried her best to comfort her, "Master, no matter where you go, the slaves will accompany you. Actually, I heard that the Xuanmiao Palace is not bad, it is also a royal palace, and there are people serving... At least it is much better than the Leng Palace. .”

This result is better than I expected, in fact, it will take a lifetime to exhaust, where is it not exhausted?Gu Pinji didn't worry about herself anymore, but there was still something in her heart that she couldn't let go of. She hesitated for a long time, and finally asked, "I don't know how the emperor will punish him?"

The person who serves the master personally, Lian Qiu can guess who this "he" refers to, Lian Qiu sighed and said: "What else is the master worried about? He is his own flesh and blood, no matter how bad it is, he can't be bad... But I heard that he begged the emperor to abolish his position in order to intercede for you?"

"Abolish him?" Gu Pinji was shocked, grabbed Lianqiu's hand and asked urgently, "He really said that? Then the emperor agreed?"

"I haven't heard the news yet." Lian Qiu shook her head, "Master, your fate is bad, Mrs. Hou insisted on letting you into the palace, or else, or..." The little maid shed tears.

No matter what the fate is, things have come to this point, Gu Pinxi knows where she is going, and she no longer complains, but she is always thinking about that young man, even though maybe, she will never meet again in this life.

When the news reached the East Palace, Song Chi, who was reading a book before the case, was silent for a long time, and finally heaved a long sigh of relief.

After approving paperwork for a day in Qinzheng Palace, Song Chen got up in the evening and went directly to Funing Palace, where his mother lived.When the news was delivered to Yufu Palace, Chu Xue, who was waiting for him to have a meal, had a vague guess in her heart, but didn't ask much, and took the children to eat first.

Le'er ate by herself for a while, then tilted her head and asked her mother, "Mother, why didn't Father come back today?"

Chu Xue picked up a piece of crispy lotus root for her, and said softly, "My father was afraid that my grandmother would be bored eating alone, so I went to accompany her."

"Oh." The little girl nodded and ate seriously.

In Funing Palace, mother and son are also eating.

Without children, the dinner table was more solemn. The mother and son finished their meal quietly and drank hot tea. The queen mother glanced at her son who was obviously silent tonight, and asked, "If you have anything to say, just say it." .”

The queen mother has always understood herself, Song Chen nodded and said: "I have something to discuss with the queen mother, son, I want to abolish the reserve."

"What?" The queen mother stared at him with wide eyes, and said anxiously: "Chi'er just contradicted you a few words, and you are so cruel that you want to abolish him? This is a big matter, you must not get angry with the child!"

"The son is not cruel, nor is he angry. When did the mother see her son take the world's major events to the air?" Song Chen explained, "The son just thinks that Chi'er is not suitable for the position of prince. This child has no fighting spirit at all." And desire, he felt that he was the prince for the sake of the Xu family, and he was not willing at all. The queen mother said, he is like this, can he be the king of a country in the future? I think, instead of this, it is better to give it to a People who really want to do well.”

The queen mother was startled, and hurriedly asked him, "The emperor already has an idea? Who do you want to choose to replace Chi'er? Qian'er? Qi'er? Or... Xuan'er?"

Song Chen smiled, picked up the teacup at hand, and said: "The queen mother is joking, Xuan'er is still so young, what can you tell?"

It seemed that it was not Chu Xue's idea, the queen mother breathed a sigh of relief, and asked again, "Who does the emperor plan to choose to replace Chi'er?"

"What my son means is to take Chi'er's seat and put it there first. If the other children want it, they will naturally work hard. Let's observe first, and then decide who to give it to in a few years. Fair." Song Chen said.

fair?

Speaking of fairness, the queen mother thought of her own son, and remembered that Song Chen had been stronger than the deposed prince since he was a child, but because of his own status, he had never been able to get what he wanted. In the end, it was he who planned to fight for the throne by himself. get it.Thinking of this, the Queen Mother couldn't help sighing, "Indeed, it's much fairer for you to do this, at least better than your father."

Seeming to have accepted his proposal, the queen mother asked again, "The Ai family understands your difficulties, but the previous dynasty... the position of the crown prince is related to all forces, not to mention the Xu family, and the Marquis of Anping must not agree. Chi'er has a marriage contract first, can they just watch the position of the crown princess slip away?"

Song Chen smiled, "Even if Chi'er is not the crown prince, I will make him a king. If Marquis Anping doesn't like a princess, then just withdraw the engagement. It's not a pity to be in power, but I value those who give charcoal in the snow more." .As for the Xu family, I think they won't give up easily..."

He raised his eyes and looked out the window and sighed leisurely: "But my country, we can't just take risks for his side."

Seeing that he had already made a decision, the Empress Dowager knew that it would be useless to persuade her, so she only instructed: "The Ai family in the previous court can't help, since you have made a decision, go ahead and do it. It's just that Chi'er is seventeen, and has been Being held in this seat, and now suddenly lost, I must feel uncomfortable, I hope the emperor will comfort me!"

"Son understands." Song Chen replied.

After talking with his mother, Song Chen got up and went to the East Palace.

(End of this chapter)